Friends-
I am terribly sad to share this news that I just learned, that
H. Kenneth Fish, an amazing progressive, most recently of Needham (but legendarily of Weston), has died. I will miss him and his boundless passion, energy and conviction, which, in my short time of knowing him, always belied his fragile frame. I send my love to his family and loved ones. Progressives, democrats, lovers of peace and justice everywhere have just experienced a rift in the force of what's good and right in the world. Obituary and information about services and remembrances
at this link.
...I know Ken would be the first to approve of the actions below! So in remembrance of his spirit...onward...
The grassroots work of election season 2012--an important year for Massachusetts and Needham--is gearing up. As always, items of note are ALL listed on the
YWC Calendar, which is always available to review at
my “blog”---bookmark it, so you will always know (w/o a nagging email) what is going on in a given week/day!:
http://hmny.me/ywccal
Please take note that
two of these events are on MONDAY Jan. 16, so please review / RSVP / write in your calendar today!
Phone Banks for Elizabeth Warren
I am quite excited that this campaign is beginning to kick into grassroots gear, and there are two living room phone banks already scheduled. First one is Monday. the next is the following week. BRING YOUR CELL PHONES! If you do not have a cell phone, talk to the hosts; it is likely something can be worked out! (PS: also, "like" the
Needham for Elizabeth Warren Facebook page)
Needham Phone Bank for Elizabeth Warren
MONDAY, January 16, 6:30 PM
236 Greendale Avenue, Needham
Georgina’s (a Yellow farmhouse)
Thank you Georgina for kicking off the 2012 grassroots work! Georgina will have pizza and other refreshments, in addition to call lists and scripts. Please let her know if you are coming so that she can plan food accordingly. Let’s get dialing! (don’t forget your cell phone!)
RSVP:
http://hmny.me/2012_1-16needhamphonebankEW
Host: Georgina:
ruets@mac.com
URGENT ACTION NEEDED:
"Three Strikes and You’re Out”--bad policy on its way to becoming law
Tuesday, January 17, 10 minutes during business hours
Where: wherever you are, using your phone
10 minutes, 3 phone calls, one day. If enough of us do this, we can make a change.
Part of a larger package of “reforms” in the so-called “habitual offenders” bill passed in November, “3 strikes” is very bad policy--- it doesn’t deter crime, it costs money, takes away judicial authority, and entraps undeserving persons in harsh life sentences (Not to mention its disproportionate impact on communities of color, and exacerbation of prison expense and overcrowding).
An excellent summary of what was BAD *AND* good in the bill--is
summarized in the Bay State Banner (more links to
more articles and information collated here),
The bill is currently in conference committee.
We have a small window to act, and
to be most effective, action should be coordinated. This can be as little an effort as picking up the phone and spending 5-10 minutes calling 3 people to end 3 strikes.
YOUR 5-10 MINUTES IS MADE MORE POWERFUL IF WE ALL MAKE THE CALL ON THE SAME DAY...
Will you join me in taking 5-10 minutes out of your Tuesday--
the first day of legislative business after MLK day--to make just
3 calls to stop 3 strikes? I have all the info and recommended script (based on conversations with people who have a sense of what messaging would be most persuasive). Let me know if you can join, and I will make sure you are reminded on Tuesday and have all the info you need.
RSVP here:
http://hmny.me/3strikes3callsRSVP
Other Great Events Happening in/around Needham
check the Calendar for details
Jan 13, Friday: Needham citizens organizing against
pesticides
Jan 16, Monday: Needham’s
MLK day celebration/observance
Jan 17, Thu: LWV’s “
Run for Town Meeting info session (DO IT!!)
Jan 18: Wed:
UU Values and
Occupy (
Framingham)
Jan 19:
Iron-Jawed Angels -- tough women fighting for our freedom!
Jan 22:
Newton: Learn more about the
OCCUPY movement! 1pm: 1st Unitarian in Newton
...and more stuff too!
CHECK THE
CALENDAR FOR MORE INFO ON EACH OF THESE!
Overturning Citizens United - From the Ground Up
A group is coalescing in Needham, looking to use grassroots action (bottom up, people-driven) to begin to dismantle the disastrous Citizens United SJC decision, which has opened the floodgates to massive corporate spending on our political process. (for
resources/info on money in politics and Citizens United, see here). There has been
increasing national interest in a Constitutional Amendment do declare that Corporations are Not People.
If you remember from civics class (if you HAD civics class!), a Constitutional amendment is a big deal... And local,
grassroots organizing--buildling support/mandates from communities to local governments to state government and on--- is central/
imperative to passage of an amendment.
If you’re interested in local initiatives to declare that Corporations are not People--please contact
Stacie Shapiro to get involved (email: alanstacie@aol.com) ! There’s lots of fun/exciting work to do in the near term (signatures, letters, more!)!
RUNNING FOR TOWN MEETING
Town Meeting is the “legislative branch” of our local government, and this year, EVERY town meeting seat is up for re-election. It is a perfect opportunity for “new blood” to run! I know you all to be persons of conviction and commitment, and
I would be honored to help get the word out for the candidacies of any ‘YWC” (or other progressive Needham) volunteer/activist. 24 Town Meeting members will be voted in for each precinct. Darn good odds! So get your nomination papers from Town Hall/Town Clerk!
I have put the deadlines on the public cal :
http://hmny.me/ywccal. The last day to file your nomination papers (Pick them up at Town Hall!) is
February 22.
All you need is 10 signatures (get 15 to be safe!) of Needham residents in your Precinct!
More info here, and at the LWV information session on Tuesday, all about running for TM (see
calendar)!
MORE EVENTS/FUNDRAISERS OF NOTE!
Needham Community Farm benefit -- FOOD BY SWEET BASIL
Feb 1 - RSVP:
http://needhamfarm.eventbrite.com/
All I can say is YUM and get your tickets before they run out of space!
Newton Fundraiser for Obama 2012 - with MA First Lady Diane Patrick
February 23
There are a LIMITED # of lowdollar tickets! Please reserve your space early:
http://hmny.me/obama2012_2-23
I am a huge fan of the low dollar access tickets for fundraisers like this. I hope that you will take advantage but
ACT EARLY/FAST so they don’t disappear.
That said, I have a Special request: if you are going to be contributing $250 or more to this campaign this year anyway, please consider the higher $ amount (vs. the $44), and
help me reach my obligation as a host! (I've agreed to raise $1000!). I would love to see you there!
Speaking of OBAMA...
Remember how we were working our butts off in 2008 for Obama? It’s been a long few years... Full of reality checks, and--I’ll say it!!--disappointments. Those are real. I share them and I validate them. I will b/tch about it with you over beer. Multiple beers. But at the end of the day, Obama HAS achieved great things (see some of them linked
from here)... and I personally will not tolerate (!) having Mitt Romney for President. That IS the alternative. We need to work for Obama again in 2012, and tho I know for some it will be without the feeling of hope and promise that fueled some of our work in 2008, it’s
necessary work all the same.
Soon, we ought to have in Needham some regular phone banks and carpools to NH for Obama. Anyone out there want to help organize? Let’s talk!!
One last SAVE THE DATE:
Beer Party!! - SAVE THE DATE - APRIL FOOLS
Our next (Local) election is Tuesday April 10. So, our Now Traditional Beer Party Before the Election is scheduled for APRIL 1 (!).
Save the afternoon and over beer and relaxed conversation, we’ll go over the Town Ballot, share information/pool knowledge and discuss the various candidates and offices.
We’ve done at this for the last 3 (I think?) elections, and they’ve been both fun and, I’m told, productive, useful and informative. So, SAVE THE DATE and tell your friends! It’s on the public calendar, and I will remind everyone again as we get closer.
happy clicking!
--Harmony
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